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The ECB has redefined its inflation target, which was seen by some as confusing

ECB sets new inflation target after 18 month review

The European Central Bank has set a new inflation target and claimed a role in fighting climate change after a strategy review that marks the biggest overhaul to date of Europe's most powerful financial institution.

Business • 09 Jul 21

The European Central Bank today kept euro zone interest rates steady

ECB lifts euro zone growth and inflation projections

The European Central Bank said today it would continue to run its emergency bond purchases at a higher pace than at the beginning of the year.

Business • 10 Jun 21

The ECB's deposit rate remains at -0.5% and the main rate steady at 0% after today's meeting

ECB sticks with euro zone stimulus plans

The European Central Bank left its ultra-easy policy unchanged as expected today, providing the pandemic-stricken currency bloc with record stimulus even as an accelerating vaccination campaign raises hopes for a rebound.

Business • 22 Apr 21

Lagarde warns stimulus may take some time to show up

The European Central Bank may need some time before the recently agreed acceleration in the pace of money printing becomes apparent, ECB President Christine Lagarde said today.

Business • 18 Mar 21

No interest rate changes from European Central Bank today

ECB to boost emergency bond buys, keeps rates unchanged

The European Central Bank said today it was going to boost its bond purchases over the next quarter as it attempts to keep borrowing costs low for a euro zone economy still struggling with the Covid-19 pandemic.

Business • 12 Mar 21

Philip Lane held private discussions with a select group of economists from the world's biggest banks

ECB reconsidering Lane's private calls with investors

The European Central Bank is considering whether chief economist Philip Lane should continue to hold private calls with investors after policy meetings, ECB President Christine Lagarde said on Friday.

Business • 23 Jan 21

No rate changes from the European Central Bank today

ECB reaffirms pledge to support economy through Covid

The European Central Bank warned today that a new surge in Covid-19 infections poses risks to the euro zone's recovery and reaffirmed its pledge to keep borrowing costs low to help the economy through the pandemic.

Business • 21 Jan 21

ECB forecasts stand if lockdowns lift by March - ECB

European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde has today pushed back against economic pessimism, arguing that a rebound will come as pandemic uncertainty declines.

Business • 13 Jan 21

European Central Bank chief Christine Lagarde

ECB chief Lagarde calls for unlocking EU aid

European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde has called on European Union leaders to end a potentially damaging budget impasse and unlock aid for a region that is facing a severe hit from the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic.

Business • 19 Nov 20

ECB chief Christine Lagarde says uncertainty remains about the Covid-19 vaccine

Fed, ECB heads cautious despite Covid vaccine hopes

The heads of the Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank welcomed the encouraging results in trials of a vaccine candidate for the novel coronavirus but stressed that the economic outlook will remain uncertain.

Business • 13 Nov 20

No rate changes from European Central Bank today

ECB keeps stimulus unchanged but hints at more action

The European Central Bank left its ultra-easy policy unchanged today but hinted at more support in December for a euro zone economy struggling with a fresh wave of the coronavirus pandemic.

Business • 29 Oct 20

The ECB's latest minutes suggest the bank could roll out more stimulus later this year

ECB more concerned about growth than previously thought

The European Central Bank may be more concerned about the pandemic-hit economy than analysts had previously thought, based on its September policy meeting minutes, suggesting it could roll out more stimulus later this year.

Business • 09 Oct 20

Standards like Bitcoin are forcing central banks to consider launching digital versions of their own currencies

ECB seeking public's input on a potential digital euro

The European Central bank "should be prepared" to possibly launch a digital currency, president Christine Lagarde has said, adding that the public will be asked to weigh in on the issue.

Business • 02 Oct 20

Inflation in the euro zone has missed the ECB's target, currently set "below but close to 2%" for years despite increasingly aggressive stimulus from the bank

ECB's Lagarde sets scene for Fed-like strategy overhaul

European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde has today set the scene for changing the ECB's strategy to align it with that of the Federal Reserve, possibly including a commitment to let inflation overshoot after it has been low for too long.

Business • 30 Sep 20

Lagarde says dissent among policymakers is healthy

Dissent on the European Central Bank executive board is normal and healthy, ECB president Christine Lagarde has said amid a growing rift among policymakers, fuelled in part by commentary from board members.

Business • 29 Sep 20

ECB must carefully assess data on patchy recovery

Europe's economic rebound is uncertain and uneven, requiring "very careful" assessment of incoming data, including the evolution of the coronavirus pandemic, European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde said today.

Business • 21 Sep 20

The ECB's benchmark deposit rate remains at -0.5% while the main rate remains at 0%

ECB's Lagarde says bank watching euro closely

The European Central Bank left policy unchanged today but with the economic recovery losing momentum and a strong euro dampening inflation expectations, ECB President Christine Lagarde is expected to set the stage for more stimulus later.

Business • 10 Sep 20

The European Central Bank is not expected to make any major policy moves at its meeting this week

Surging euro, vanishing inflation: 5 questions for ECB

This week's European Central Bank meeting should be anything but dull - the euro is surging, inflation is negative for the first time since 2016 and there is heightened uncertainty about the coronavirus as the number of new cases edges higher.

Business • 07 Sep 20

ECB takes policy pause despite pandemic worries rising

The European Central Bank kept policy unchanged as expected, taking a pause after a string of extraordinary moves that pushed out the boundaries of monetary policy and helped the euro zone stay afloat during a pandemic-induced recession.

Business • 16 Jul 20

The ECB chief has warned that the new normal will look different from what was before

Lagarde says 'probably passed lowest point' of crisis

The worst of the economic crisis unleashed by the coronavirus pandemic is likely over, European Central Bank chief Christine Lagarde said today.

Business • 26 Jun 20

ECB's Lagarde urges quick EU recovery plan

European Central Bank head Christine Lagarde urged European Union leaders today to quickly agree on a recovery package that would pull the economy from a "dramatic fall" or risk a change in sentiment on markets, which were expecting a deal soon.

Business • 19 Jun 20

'The Franco-German proposals are ambitious, targeted and, of course, welcome,' ECB chief Christine Lagarde has said

ECB's Lagarde cheers Franco-German EU recovery plan

A Franco-German proposal for a €500 billion coronavirus recovery fund would bring essential relief to the bloc's worst-hit nations and demonstrate solidarity, European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde said.

Business • 19 May 20

The ECB said the euro zone is 'facing an economic contraction of a magnitude and speed that is unprecedented in recent history'

ECB's Lagarde warns of 'unprecedented' slump

The coronavirus will push the euro zone economy into an "unprecedented" peacetime slump, European Central Bank chief Christine Lagarde said today, vowing to use all the bank's tools to help combat the downturn.

Business • 30 Apr 20

ECB President Christine Lagarde said 'extraordinary times require extraordinary action'

ECB announces €750bn bond purchase scheme

The European Central Bank last night announced a surprise €750 billion scheme to purchase government and corporate bonds.

Business • 19 Mar 20

The European Central Bank said it is ready to take further measures to support the crisis-stricken euro zone economy

ECB says it has more firepower to fight crisis

The European Central Bank is ready to take further measures to support the crisis-stricken euro zone economy, it said today, attempting to dispel growing concerns that the bank is out of ammunition.

Business • 18 Mar 20